Electro-optical connector and methods for aligning

Abstract

An electro-optical connector including a first connector end and a second connector end. The first connector end is coupled to a first electro-optical device. The second connector end coupled to a second electro-optical device. The second connector is flexibly coupled to a connector base so a second connector face can move flexibly with respect to a first connector face. A force mechanism on at least one connector end applies a force on an interface between the first connector end and the second connector end. The force is applied when the first connector face is within a predefined proximity of the second connector face. A mechanical guide on the connector end can align the first connector face with the second connector face when the force mechanism applies the force. The connector end for the force mechanism or the mechanical guide can be the first connector end or the second connector end.

1. An electro-optical connector, comprising:
 a first connector end coupled to a first electro-optical device; 
 a second connector end coupled to a second electro-optical device; 
 a second connector base coupled to the second connector end, said second connector base being supported on a substrate by a flexible mechanism configured for a second connector face to move flexibly with respect to a first connector face, wherein said flexible mechanism allows lateral, rotational and tilt movement of said second connector face relative to said first connector face to provide alignment of said first and second connector faces; 
 a force mechanism on a connector end that applies a force on an interface between the first connector end and the second connector end when the first connector face is within a predefined proximity of the second connector face, wherein the connector end is the first connector end or the second connector end; and 
 a mechanical guide on the connector end configured to align the first connector face with the second connector face when the force mechanism applies the force. 
 
     
     
       2. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the force mechanism includes a magnet. 
     
     
       3. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the force mechanism comprises an air spring. 
     
     
       4. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the force mechanism and the flexible coupling of the second connector end of the second connector base are combined into a compliance mechanism. 
     
     
       5. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible mechanism includes a leaf spring. 
     
     
       6. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the first connector end is compliantly coupled to a first connector base. 
     
     
       7. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical guide further comprises at least two mechanical guides to provide rotation alignment on an interface plane of the first and the second connector faces. 
     
     
       8. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical guide comprises a rough alignment guide and a fine alignment guide. 
     
     
       9. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical guide comprises a spherical structure on one face of the connector and a corresponding taper on the other face of the connector. 
     
     
       10. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical guide comprises a rod on one face of the connector and a corresponding cone-shaped taper on the other face of the connector, wherein the cone-shaped taper guides a tip of the rod to a point of the cone for alignment. 
     
     
       11. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical guide comprises at least three datums on two sides of a first connector face to align the corresponding edges of second connector face, wherein two datums are on a first side of the first connector face and one datum is on a second side of the first connector face. 
     
     
       12. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second electro-optical devices include integrated circuits (ICs). 
     
     
       13. An electro-optical connector, comprising:
 a first substrate; 
 a second substrate substantially parallel to the first substrate; 
 a first connector end attached to the first substrate; 
 a second connector end attached to the second substrate, the second connector end being supported on the second substrate by a flexible mechanism having a folded, Z-shaped structure configured to enable lateral, rotational and tilt movement of a plane of a second connector face of the second connector end to align the second connector face with a first connector face of the first connector end; 
 a force mechanism on the connector that applies a force on an interface of the first connector face and the second connector face when the first connector face is within proximity of the second connector face, wherein the connector includes the first connector end and the second connector end; and 
 a mechanical guide on the connector configured to align the first connector face with the second connector face with the applied force. 
 
     
     
       14. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 13 , wherein the force mechanism applies a force orthogonal to the plane of the first substrate and the second substrate. 
     
     
       15. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 13 , wherein the first substrate or the second substrate comprises a printed circuit board (PCB). 
     
     
       16. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 13 , wherein the first substrate and second substrate comprise printed circuit board (PCB) computer card blades attached to a computer chassis. 
     
     
       17. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 16 , wherein the first connector face is within proximity of the second connector face when the PCB blades are attached to a computer chassis. 
     
     
       18. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 17 , wherein the first and the second connector ends detach from each other with a lateral force on the first and the second connector ends substantially parallel to the plane of the first substrate and the second substrate. 
     
     
       19. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 13 , wherein the second connector end is flexibly coupled to the second substrate with a flexible coupling, wherein the flexible coupling is configured to align the first connector face with the second connector face with a tilt and rotation of less than or equal to  5  degrees in all three axes of rotation. 
     
     
       20. A method for connecting an electro-optical connector with a proximity force mechanism and mechanical guides, comprising:
 providing a first connector end; 
 moving a face of a second connector end within proximity of a face of the first connector end; 
 forcing the first connector face to contact the second connector face using a force mechanism on a connector when the first connector face is within proximity of the second connector face, wherein the connector includes the first connector end and the second connector end; 
 flexibly positioning the first connector face adjacent to the second connector face by supporting the first connector end on a flexible mechanism that allows lateral, rotational and tilt movement of the first connector end to allow the first connector face to align with the second connector face, wherein the flexible mechanism comprises electrical traces for carrying electrical data signals to said first connector end; and 
 further aligning the first connector face with the second connector face using a mechanical guide on the connector and the force mechanism. 
 
     
     
       21. An electro-optical connector as in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible mechanism comprises a folded, Z-shaped structure.